Chapter 255: Chapter 207 Immortal Ascension Pill! [Vote for Monthly Pass!]_2
No need to dispute.
No need to fight.
There are not so many twists and turns.
"I’m truly too fortunate."
Chen Jichuan felt content and grateful.
...
The bustling Fire Dragon Cave Market lasted for over a month, only gradually returning to its usual appearance after the tournament concluded and Tainan Valley opened.
It remained lively.
But the previous clamor and restless rhythm slowly faded away.
Chen Jichuan carried on as usual.
Outside his cultivation sessions.
He wandered leisurely around the market, surveying numerous loose cultivators with basic knowledge of alchemy and artifact refining, observing their talent, character, and other traits. From among them, he selected six to take under his wing, appointing them as Fire Stoking Children.
When navigating the Dao Fruit World, Chen Jichuan often needed to meditate. Many pills and magical treasures were constrained by this requirement, preventing their refinement.
He had long wanted to recruit a few disciples to keep watch over the fire within his alchemical furnaces for him.
But he never had the time, nor did he wish to entrust others casually or select indiscriminately.
This opportunity allowed him to carefully choose.
Finally, he was thoroughly satisfied.
As for the six loose cultivators.
Chen Jichuan, being a somewhat well-known Alchemist and Artifact Refiner in the Fire Dragon Cave Market, represented a rare opportunity for them to join his apprenticeship, follow his path, and learn alchemy and artifact refining. To them, it was nothing short of heaven-sent fortune. Each of them was overjoyed and eagerly pledged themselves to him, following him back to his abode.
Chen Jichuan did not immediately impart much knowledge to them.
He merely instructed them in controlling fire, using them solely as Fire Stoking Children. Things obtained too easily are rarely cherished.
Though Chen Jichuan intended to cultivate capable disciples.
He was unwilling to give indiscriminately, lest he raise ungrateful wolves in the process.
In alchemy and artifact refining, stoking the fire is the truest test of patience and character. Who is diligent and who is neglectful, Chen Jichuan could discern with a mere glance.
Combined with their daily behavior.
The difference between genuine gold and mere sand was readily apparent.
Thus.
For now, these six newly recruited Fire Stoking Children were closer to being servants than disciples.
If they wished to truly become disciples under Chen Jichuan’s tutelage, they would need to withstand further trials of fire.
From beginning to end, Chen Jichuan merely advised them on techniques for controlling fire.
But even so, it was an immense opportunity. Even if they were not retained in the future, having such skills meant they would be able to make a living and not want for food or drink.
...
Three months passed quickly, in the blink of an eye.
On this day.
The parsing progress for the new world had reached [98/100], leaving only two more days until a new Dao Fruit World would open.
And on this day.
Luo Ming strode boldly into Chen Jichuan’s abode.
"Manager Luo."
"Mr. Luo."
Wang Cheng, Bi Qinghe, and the other six noticed Luo Ming’s arrival, their expressions instantly respectful as they all saluted him.
Before joining Chen Jichuan as his Fire Stoking Children, they too were loose cultivators around Fire Dragon Cave, earning their livelihood at its market. Thus, they naturally recognized such an important figure as Luo Ming.
Seeing him visit today left them a bit surprised.
But with further thought, considering their master’s expertise in alchemy and artifact refining, they quickly came to realize.
"Luo Ming specializes in recruiting loose cultivators for Divine Banner Sect at Fire Dragon Cave Market."
"Master’s dual mastery of alchemy and artifact refining—Luo Ming recruiting him personally is no surprise."
The six thought to themselves, feeling all the more fortunate to have been noticed by Master Chen.
They were filled with expectations for the future.
On the other side.
"Brother Luo!"
Chen Jichuan, upon seeing Luo Ming, broke into a cheerful expression.
Simultaneously instructing Wang Cheng, Bi Qinghe, and the other six to withdraw, he led Luo Ming into the depths of his abode, where they each took a seat.
"With this addition, Brother Chen’s abode no longer feels so desolate."
Luo Ming took a sip of tea and said to Chen Jichuan with a smile.
He and Chen Jichuan shared a private arrangement, which had brought him to Chen Jichuan’s abode several times before. On those visits, Chen Jichuan was the sole resident, his dwellings quiet and deserted.
This time, with the six new additions.
The atmosphere was entirely different.
"Busy with alchemy and artifact refining, I found a few promising talents as assistants, hoping to cultivate one or two worthy enough to inherit my craft."
Chen Jichuan replied casually.
"Such fortune."
"These individuals, to earn Brother Chen’s favor, must truly have accumulated blessings over several lifetimes."
Luo Ming said with a smile.
Though the remark carried a hint of flattery, it was not exaggerated. With Chen Jichuan’s expertise in alchemy and artifact refining, loose cultivators of merely innate cultivation were certainly encountering a rare stroke of fortune by apprenticing under him.
"Brother Luo exaggerates."
Chen Jichuan chuckled lightly, unwilling to linger on trivial topics. Thoughts of important matters weighed on his mind, prompting him to ask directly, "Brother Luo, have you found ’One Origin Heavy Water’ this time?"
For over four months now.
Luo Ming had been helping Chen Jichuan gather materials like Dock Stone, Geng Metal, and others needed for constructing a Teleportation Array.
As of today.
Only ’One Origin Heavy Water’ remained to be secured.
Luo Ming’s current visit was most likely related to this.
"Indeed."
Luo Ming did not keep him in suspense. Seeing Chen Jichuan ask, he smiled and retrieved a jeweled bottle from his sleeve, placing it onto the table.
A small jade bottle.
When set down, it seemed to weigh a thousand pounds, landing with a muffled thud that filled Chen Jichuan with joy.
’One Origin Heavy Water’ weighed over a thousand pounds.
With the heft of this bottle, it was undoubtedly One Origin Heavy Water.
Chen Jichuan picked it up and opened it, finding dark liquid within, subtly rippling. Using Insight Skill to examine it closely, he immediately identified—
"One Origin Heavy Water!"
Chen Jichuan’s face lit up with delight.
He had already gathered enough Dock Stone, Geng Metal, Five-Colored Wood, and Fire Yang Stone. Previously, through Luo Ming and the channels of Fire Cloud Sect and Seven Mysterious Sect, he had obtained seven or eight drops of One Origin Heavy Water. Now, with the ten-plus drops contained in this bottle, he had sufficient quantity to construct two or three sets of Teleportation Arrays.
"The previous array near Seven Emotions Marsh is quite far from Fire Cloud Cave, and moreover, outsiders know about it."
"I’ll build another nearby and abandon the previous one to avoid potential trouble."
Thinking this through.
Chen Jichuan thanked Luo Ming and settled the payment before preparing to see him off so he could alter the Teleportation Array.
Unexpectedly, Luo Ming brought yet another piece of good news this time.
...
"Brother Chen’s pill quality is exceptional, and its potency is pure."
"Several alchemists within our sect have praised it openly."
"As Brother Chen is aware, recently our Divine Banner Sect, alongside two other sects, ventured into Tainan Valley and acquired numerous ingredients for refining the Immortal Ascension Pill. The sect now requests Brother Chen assist us in refining a batch of Immortal Ascension Pills. If the quality and potency are satisfactory, the reward for a few pills will be significant."
Luo Ming smiled as he spoke to Chen Jichuan.
"Refining Immortal Ascension Pills?"
Upon hearing this, Chen Jichuan immediately recognized it as good news.
Immortal Ascension Pills were inherently rare and were usually consumed within the three major sects, rarely leaking outside. If he could refine these pills as an external assistance, the opportunity to demand one or two Immortal Ascension Pills as compensation was entirely feasible.
However.
Why would such a favorable opportunity fall to him?
As if recognizing Chen Jichuan’s doubts, Luo Ming added, "Master Mo recommended Brother Chen to the Sect Leader, praising your alchemy skill and candidly declaring that for refining first-order pills, he cannot match your expertise."
"Master Mo?"
"Mo Longyuan?"
This immediately clarified things for Chen Jichuan.
Though Divine Banner Sect dominated in terms of array formations, it also supported numerous alchemists. However, cultivating alchemists was extremely challenging, and despite its best efforts, the sect had a limited number of them.
There was only one second-order Alchemist within the sect.
That was the aforementioned ’Mo Longyuan,’ known as Master Mo.
With his second-order expertise, Mo Longyuan could barely discern the solid foundations in the pills refined by Chen Jichuan.
Combined with the reputation Chen Jichuan had established over the past three years regarding his success rate and quality in pill refinement, Mo Longyuan’s recommendation of him for refining Immortal Ascension Pills was perfectly logical.
"Immortal Ascension Pills are difficult to refine."
"Although they are first-order pills, even second-order Alchemists cannot guarantee flawless success in refining each batch, nor can they ensure consistent quality or success rate."
"Inviting me to try—if I can slightly increase the success rate and quality, it would be a big win for Divine Banner Sect."
"Additionally, they would establish a friendly relationship with me, a dual master of alchemy and artifact refining."
"It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement."
Chen Jichuan mentally pieced together Divine Banner Sect’s motives.
Meanwhile, Luo Ming noticed Chen Jichuan’s silence and mistook it for hesitation over the difficulty of refining Immortal Ascension Pills. He leaned closer and spoke softly, "Brother Chen need not feel pressured. Immortal Ascension Pills are notoriously challenging, and the sect’s invitation stems from Master Mo’s recommendation and the spirit of experimentation. Moreover, it’s an effort to strengthen camaraderie with you. Even if the batch turns out flawed or fails, the sect certainly won’t hold you accountable."
The Immortal Ascension Pill.
Chen Jichuan had no immediate use for it.
But Chen Shaohu might require one in the future.
Initially, he planned to acquire Immortal Ascension Pills down the road when his cultivation advanced and his wealth grew. Furthermore, with his mentorship and the aid of iron lotus seeds, Chen Shaohu might not even need Immortal Ascension Pills.
Thus, he had not paid too much heed or overly pursued their acquisition.
But with this opportunity delivered to his doorstep, there was no reason to refuse.
"Since your sect has entrusted me with this, I shall humbly take on the task and refine this batch!"
Chen Jichuan agreed readily.
...